Bal Thackeray is better, return to work, Shiv Sena tells corporators

Mumbai: Shiv Sena corporators met at Matoshree on Saturday even as Bal Thackeray's health improved and he is reported to be stable. The 76 corporators, who attended the meeting, were told that Thackeray is fine and they should now get back to work. The security forces, however, are still deployed outside Matoshree though crowds have dwindled significantly since Friday.

The corporators meeting, which was addressed by Mayor Sunil Prabhu, wasn’t attended by acting president Uddhav Thackeray. He had been regularly updating media about the health of Shiv Sena chief. The party mouthpiece Saamna also on Saturday morning assured that Bal Thackeray was recovering and there was no need to worry anymore.

"Our warrior is fighting. With good wishes and prayers of Shiv Sainiks across Maharashtra, Thackeray is recovering," an article in Saamna said. It further quoted Thackeray's son Uddhav assuring people that there was no need to worry. "Doctors treating Thackeray have also assured that the chief is recovering. His pulse rate, heart beat and blood pressure is normal. He has 98 per cent oxygen in his blood," it said.

No medical bulletin on his condition has been issued in the last three days though Shiv Sena leaders have communicated with the assembled media. Uddhav too briefly addressed the supporters twice in two days asking them to pray for the ailing leader's recovery. The condition of the 86-year-old Sena patriarch, who has not been keeping well for the last few weeks, suddenly worsened on Wednesday night when he had to be put on life support, which was taken off later after he showed signs of improvement.